Four Hokies Complete 2023 MLB Draft Class

After Virginia Tech pitcher Drue Hackenberg was selected in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday, four other Hokies joined him on Monday and Tuesday: outfielder Jack Hurley, pitcher Christian Worley, pitcher Brady Kirtner and outfielder Carson Jones.

Hurley was picked 80th overall (round 3, pick 10) by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday afternoon. Worley went a few hours later at pick 275 (round 9, pick 21) to the St. Louis Cardinals. Kirtner went next on Tuesday at No. 366 (round 12, pick 22) to the New York Mets. Carson Jones rounded out the class at pick 457 (round 15, pick 23) when he was selected by the Seattle Mariners.

In all, that makes 23 Hokies that have been drafted since John Szefc took over in 2017. And it marks at least 11 players from Virginia Tech’s 2022 super regional team that will play professional baseball: the five from the 2023 draft plus the six — Gavin Cross, Tanner Schobel, Nick Biddison, Cade Hunter, Graham Firoved and Jordan Geber (undrafted free agent) —  who went in last year’s event. Carson DeMartini and others could join that group in the future.

Hurley, the No. 36 overall prospect according to mlb.com, became the first Hokie to be drafted by the Diamondbacks. He’ll join former Tech pitcher and 2022 NL All-Star Joe Mantiply in the Arizona organization. An All-American and All-ACC performer, Hurley hit .321 in three seasons in Blacksburg, with 49 RBIs and 17 home runs in 2023. The Boalsburg, Pa. native had a team-best .713 slugging percentage in 2023. Two of his greatest performances with Tech came in April in Charlottesville when he was 7-of-10 with three home runs and eight RBIs in two wins over UVa.

Worley led the Hokies in ERA in 2023 with a mark of 2.70, though injury limited him to just five appearances. He’s the third Tech pitcher in the Szefc era to land in St. Louis, following in the footsteps of Connor Coward (2018) and Chris Gerard (2021). The Halifax County product had a 4.42 ERA in three seasons at Tech, striking out 57 in 36 ⅔ innings. One of his best outings came in the 2022 NCAA tournament vs. Wright State, in which he fanned a then-career-high five batters in 3 ⅓ in a 15-9 win.

Kirtner spent two seasons with the Hokies, hitting his stride in 2023 with a 4.62 ERA in 25 ⅓ innings. He’s the fifth Tech player and the fourth pitcher to be drafted by the Mets, the first since Brad Markey in 2012. The Christiansburg native struck out 36 batters, including a career-high five in a 10-7 victory over Georgia Tech in April.

Jones burst on the scene at the end of the 2022 regular season, homering seven times in five games. Few Hokies will forget his 2-for-5 game with two homers and four RBIs in an 18-6 win over Clemson in the ACC tournament. The Glen Allen, Va. native became a staple of the Virginia Tech lineup after that, and he hit 14 home runs in 2023 while batting .299 and tallying 47 RBIs. He’s the fourth Tech player to be selected by Seattle, the first since Eddie Campbell in 2013, and the second outfielder, joining Brian Rupe (1981).

Two Hokies baseball signees were also drafted: Brady Smith and Blake Dickerson. The former, a right-handed pitcher from Grainer High School in Tennessee, went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round. His slot bonus is worth $705,500. Meanwhile, Dickerson, the 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher from Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, was picked in the 12th round by the San Diego Padres. His slot bonus is worth $150,000.